Rite and Reason: The time has come for the Church of Ireland to be a voice for the disenfranchised and downtrodden in our society, writes David Syms
Years ago when I played club rugby we had a coach who used a phrase commonly used by coaches and managers. It was that you had to give 110 per cent to have any hope of winning. The gospel also tells us that Jesus expected 110 per cent in terms of faith and commitment. Such is required of us as members of the Church of Ireland community in this State.
Our church has faced many trials and tribulations here since the foundation of the State. There was the initial departure of those who ran the previous administration - the civil servants, the military, and police. Some were forced to leave and some chose to leave - to Northern Ireland or Britain.
There were also the strict Ne Temere rules of the Roman Catholic Church which meant all children from mixed marriages had to be brought up in that denomination.
As a result of all these factors the Church of Ireland population declined and churches were closed. Over all that time the Church of Ireland was written off on many occasions, but it has survived and the reason for that has been the faith and commitment of its people.
We are now in a new and exciting situation, if we are prepared to act on it. There is a line in a U2 song that goes "stuck in a moment and you can't get out of it". We have all been there at some stage but as a church we cannot afford to allow this to happen.
There is an ever-growing vacuum in our country where major problems of social injustice and social inequality have been exacerbated by the Celtic Tiger and the subsequent downturn in the economy. There are small groups and individuals trying to do something about these problems - and they are to be commended - but there is a great opportunity here for our church to take a leading role.
We must as a church put our faith and commitment to work for the good of the wider community, regardless of faith or lack of it and regardless of nationality.
The areas that we must concern ourselves with are racism, health care, education, disability, and housing, to name a few. We do a great deal in these areas within our own church but the time has come to move beyond this good work. We must be prepared to condemn.
We have many fine leaders, not only among our bishops but also among our clergy and laity, who are experts in the fields of law, economics, health, education, and the social sciences, and would be able to do this. We have to take a stance where the two-tier medical system is concerned, for example, where people wait years for vital surgery or are left for days on trolleys waiting for beds.
We have to condemn the fact that there is still little provision made to reintegrate the disabled, both mental and physical, into the community. We have to condemn the fact that children are going to school in rat-infested condemned buildings and where up to 40 children are being taught in some classes, denying even the average student a chance of a decent education, never mind those who have learning difficulties.
We have to condemn the fact that young people are unable to afford a home, and not only young people but also single people and the elderly. This is not a problem confined to cities but affects every town and village in the country.
And it is not enough for us as a church to look after our own. As Christians we must do as Jesus would want us to and look after all his people. Obviously we do not have the funds to do so directly but if our bishops spoke out they would - because of their position within our society - be listened to or at least would grab the attention of the media.
They must be prepared to do this. It has been part of their duty for nearly 2,000 years in following the apostolic tradition as set down by Christ. To do less would be an abdication of this sacred trust.
It is not for us to wait for other churches to act. We must stand alone if necessary and be a voice for the disenfranchised and downtrodden in our society. Despite what many may feel, we are not a weak church. Our numbers may be small but our voice could be very loud indeed. We must make our church become a lamp that shines brightly in the darkness and let our bishops become the voice for those who have none.
I am very proud to be a member of the Church of Ireland. We have shown in the past that we can have great faith and commitment. But now when people need our help more that ever we must keep up this faith and commitment and not allow Jesus be able to say of us "O you of little faith".
David Syms is a diocesan reader in the Church of Ireland diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross